External Parasites of Llamas
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No drugs are yet approved for use in llamas. ALL of the products mentioned below fall under what's known as extra-label use when they are used in llamas, meaning that it is illegal to use any of these products -- even the over-the-counter products -- in llamas except under the direct supervision or order of a licensed veterinarian. In practice, llama owners routinely administer such drugs on their own, but with the risk that an adverse reaction could occur, or that the product might be ineffective. In both cases, there is no legal recourse.
Administering dewormers and topical parasitides
Paste and gel dewormers are best put well back in the mouth at the bottom of the area between the cheek and lower gum, not on the tongue. Most are formulated to be rather sticky, so even coughing and spitting llamas seldom "return" any of the product -- IF it was placed correctly.
Drenches (liquids) can be easily administered with a curved-tip infusion syringe (ask your veterinarian for a few). You will have to measure the dose separately because there are no marks on the infusion syringes. Tuck the entire tip in the corner of the llama's mouth (the syringe opening should then face the llama's throat). Hold the mouth shut and elevate the chin slightly if necessary to discourage a spitter or drooler. Wait until the llama swallows before letting go.
Pour-on formulations must be applied very carefully to be effective; this can be nearly impossible on ungroomed llamas. Take a pair of slicker brushes and brush open a deep part (to the skin) along the llama's spine. Apply the product to the skin. Brush the fiber back over the part (it is good practice to always discourage fiber parting along the spine).
Caution: pour-ons are less effective against internal parasites than oral and injectable forms. Also, some pour-ons can render fiber less desirable or even useless for a time, and they can also make a classic llama's coat bind up and painful to groom.
Caution: no pour-on product has been formulated for llamas, so they may absorb it more rapidly than cattle, which can in turn lead to temporary paralysis or paralysis-like reactions. Don't use pour-ons if you will be doing anything with the treated llamas afterwards or if you will not be around to monitor them.
Injectable formulations -- see information on giving injections, below
Delousing
Lice are the most common external parasite of llamas. Our experience is that "clean" llamas stay clean of lice, and once lice are properly eradicated, llamas will not need further treatment unless they are exposed to contaminated llamas or contaminated bedding. Llamas have their own louse species, but some people who keep llamas with sheep have indicated that sheep lice apparently will infest llamas.
Adult lice can rarely be seen, but the nits (eggs) are readily visible in colored wool. Heaviest concentrations are found on the llama's flanks and thighs. For llamas with light colored or white wool, you will have to brush, comb, or shear (depending on coat type) a sample from the abdomen just in front of the rear legs and spread the fiber over a dark cloth. Look closely for nits attached to the hair shafts.
There are no delousing products labeled for or approved for use on llamas We have tried medicated shampoos and livestock dusts with mixed success. Both must be repeated several times to get the new lice that hatch after application.
There are numerous pour-on preparations available for cattle and sheep. Cydectin pour-on has worked best for us and has the advantage of not causing grooming difficulties, but it does leave a purple streak down the animals' backs and some llamas do react with temporary coordination impairment. We did have good success with a single application of Dectomax pour-on (doramectin) at the cattle dose (1 ml per 22 pounds body weight), but it caused significant grooming and shearing difficulties, so we no longer use or recommend it.
All pour-on products for lice must be applied carefully and correctly on llamas if they are to be effective at all (see above: administering dewormers). Some require that the animals remain dry afterwards. Read the directions carefully. Also remember that no pour-on product has been formulated for llamas, so they may absorb it more rapidly than cattle, which can in turn lead to temporary paralysis or paralysis-like reactions. Don't use pour-ons if you will be doing anything with the treated llamas afterwards or if you will not be around to monitor them.
Finally, do not use a pour-on preparation for lice and deworm the same llama(s) with any product in the same drug class within a week before or after. The combination could result in an overdose.
Other external parasites
Ticks may also be affected by externally-applied preparations. Injectable ivermectin was once said to be effective against ticks, but that has been called into question. We have no experience with ticks in our area, but Dusty did pick one up while packing out of the area -- despite a travel-permit-required injection with ivermectin less than two weeks prior to his last opportunity to pick up the nasty thing!
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